Leather soled sock with rearwardly extending toe cap



Dec. 11, 1951 5, REED 2,578,091

LEATHER SOLED SOCK WITH REARWARDLY EXTENDING TOE CAP Filed Jan. 28, 19502 SHEETSSHEET l i INVENTOR.

28 J2 CZLfredEeed A.S.REED

Dec. 11, 195] LEATHER SOLED SOCK WITH REARWARDLY EXTENDING TOE CAP FiledJan. 28, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 this condition or tendency toward sideroll ren- Patented Dec. 11, 1951 LEATHER ,EXTENDING 2,573,691 SOLED SOCKwrrn amawmnnr TQE car I Alfred Bipon, Wis assignor to Ripon KnittingWorkm-Blpom Wisconsin 1 a corporation .of y

. Application January as, 1950, Serial No. 141,032

Claims. (case-s) This invention relates to footwear and. moreparticularly to a knitted sock having attached thereto a sole portion ofleather or the like.

' In recent years knitted socks having leather sole portions securedthereto have come into wide 5 spread use for lounging and general indoorpurposes in place of the conventional leather slipper. A leather soledsock of this type comprises gen-.

erally a knitted sock or upper portion, a leather sole piece at theunderside of the sock, and leather side walls secured to the sole pieceand extending a slight distance upwardly from the sole piece I andfastened to the sock by suitable stitching.

However, it has been found that the leather soled socks heretoforeknown'possess certain disis advantages or undesirable features whichhave detracted from their popularity and have inconvenienced the usersof this type of footwear. For example, users of leather sol-ed socks ofthe foregoing charaoter have frequently complained of an uncomfortabletendency for the sock toroll or 7 twist outwardly 0n the foot duringuse. In other words, the outermost leather side wall tends to roll underthe foot on normal foot pressure so that the wearer often walks orstands on the outermost leather side wall as well as on the leather soleportion. Obviously, the existence of ders the sock uncomfortable andunattractive in appearance. Moreover, if the condition continues withrepeated use of the sock, excessive and undesirable wear on the outerside wall will occur thereby further detracting from the overa allappearance of the sock and decreasing its useful life. L

Another objectionable feature of the previously known footwear of thischaracter has been the lack of any adequate provision for preventing thetoe of the article from wearing or breaking through. Prior to thepresent invention the construction of leather soled socks has been such0 that a point of weakness or slight resistance to wear was present atthe front of the article 4 because the wearer's large toe would pressagainst v the sock portion just above the juncture between the leatherside wall and the sock portion, with the result that the wearers toewould eventually wear through the sock portion just above the upper edgeof the leather side wall.

Accordingly, a general object of my invention: is to provide an articleof footwear of the foregoing type having a novel and improvedconstruction such that the disadvantages of :the previously knownarticles of this type are overcome.

Another object of the invention is to provide article prior to assembly;

a sock having a sole portion of leather or the like in which thetendency toward objectionable side r'ollduring usehas beenlargelyeliminated: P

A- further object of theinvention-is-to: provide a leather soled sockhavingmeans for-avoiding side roll which also serves' to prevent thewearers toe from penetrating through" the front. portion of thesock-during use. I

An additional object of the invention is to provide an article offootwear of they classdescribed in which the sole construction providesa slight arch-effect in order tocontribute greater oomfort and supportto the wearer's foot. u

Still another object of the invention is to provide an.-improved-article of footwear of the class described in which thevarious advantages heretofore mentioned are realized without anysubstantial increase in the required quantity of leather or likematerial, j

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedarticle of footwear of the class described in which less stitching isrequired to attach the leather portion to the knitted sock portion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident fromthe subsequent detaileddescription :of the invention andthe-accompa'nyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an article of footwear comprising onespecific embodiment of my invention;

- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the article shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the article shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofjlg.3; a

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a rear portion of the Fig. 6 is a plan vie'w ofa front portion of the 4 article prior to assembly; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views of still other portions of the articleprior toassembly. Broadly speaking, my improved article offootwearcomprises a knitted sockv having a sole piece of leather orthe-like. upwardly extending side walls of leather or the like disposedaround -the perimeter of the sole piece andsecured thereto. and-aseparate toe cap formed from a pair of elongated toe strips of leatheror the like. will be' seen hereinafter, the toe strips are fastenedalong their outer edges to the side walls and are secured along theirinner edges to the sock portion. In addition, I provide the sole piecewith a'cushioning insert of felt or the like having a heel pad at therear of the article.

Although the sole portion, side walls, and toe cap of the presentconstruction are referred to herein as preferably formed from leather,it will be understood that the invention also contemplates the use ofother similar and generally equivalent materials such as the variousforms of artificial leather, plastic compositions, etc.

Referring now to the drawings, the specific embodiment of the inventionshown therein by way of illustration comprises a knitted upper portionor sock portion II, including a leg portion and a complete foot portion,which extends into and is attached to a bottom portion I2 formed fromleather or other like material. The leather bottom portion I2 is made upof a plurality-of separate pieces including a flat bottom strip or soleportion I3 which is substantially coextensive with the bottom of thesock II.

A generally upright side wall of leather or like material extends aroundthe perimeter of the sole piece I3 and comprises a rear section or stripI4 and a front section or strip I6, the two strips being approximatelyequal in length with their ends meeting at the sides of the foot. Therear half ll of the side wall may have the general shape shown in Fig. 5prior to assembly, the strip bein of greater height or width at itscenter portion than at its ends and being provided with a plurality ofaligned perforations or apertures Il adacent its upper edge. The stripI4 is sewed along its bottom edge, as at I8 (Fig. 4), to the sole I3 andis attached to the sock II preferably by means of embroidery stitches I3extending through the perforations I1 and through the body of the sockII. side wall may have the general shape shown in Fig. 6 prior toassembly and is also sewed along its bottom edge to the sole I3, asindicated at 2|. Thus, it will be seen that the upright leather sidewall of the article is formed from two strips of approximately equallength, the rear strip I4 extending around the heel of the sock andforwardly therefrom to cover the rear half of the foot and the frontstrip I6 extending around the toe of the sock and rearwardly therefromto cover the front half of the foot. The adjacent ends of the strips I4and I6 are joined together as indicated by the seams 22.

In order to provide certain improved wearing qualities of the article,as hereinafter described in detail, a pair of right-hand and lefthandelongated toe strips 23 are employed, the strips 23 having the generalcurved shape shown in Figs 7 and 8 prior to assembly of the article. Thetoe strips 23 are formed with a row of apertures or perforations 24adjacent their innermost curved edges whereby the toe strips may besecured to the sock I I by a continuation of the embroidery stitches I9,as indicated at 26. The outer edges of the toe strips 23 are sewed tothe uppermost edge of the front strip I8, as seen at 21. The toe strips23, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, are each tapered at one end 28 sothat upon assembly the strips blend gradually into the side wall of thearticle rearwardly of the toe thereby presenting an attractiveappearance. The opposite end of each of the toe pieces 23 is formed witha straight edge 29, the strips 23 being sewed together at their abuttingedges 23, as indicated by a seam 3| at the toe of the article,

whereby to provide a generally U-shaped toe cap for the sock.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of a cushioning pad offelt or similar material between the leather sole of the article and Thefront half I6 of the leather CPI the adjacent sole of the sock wherebyto contribute increased comfort and support. This pad, as seen in Fig.4, comprises an elongated strip 32 which is sewed to the leather solepiece I3 around its perimeter by means of the same stitching I3 and 2|provided to connect the sole I3 to the strips I4 and I8. In addition, ifdesired the strip 32 may be cemented to the underlying leather solepiece I3. A heel pad 33 of felt or similar cushioning material issecured to the strip 32 by cement or other suitable adhesive means atthe heel of the article whereby to provide an internal heel constructionand thereby produce a slight arch effect, as indicated at 34 in Fig. 4.

By means of the foregoing construction I have found that theobjectionable tendency toward side roll formerly encountered in articlesof this character can be substantially eliminated. The effect of theU-shaped toe cap comprising the two toe strips 23 is to bridge over thefoot of the wearer whereby to retain the upper edges of the side wall I6which would normally tend to roll over and flatten out particularly atthe outer edge of the wearer's foot. Inasmuch as the toe strips 23overlie the toe portion of the sock II, it will be apparent that theentire front portion of the article is better able to resist theexpansive tendency of normal foot pressure because the leather or likematerial from which the strips 23 are formed is relatively inelastic. Inaddition, the two toe strips 23 are attached to the sock II inwardly andupwardly in the direction of the instep of the article and consequently.at a substantially higher point on the sock than the front leather stripI6 would normally be stitched, thereby providing further resistance toside roll or spreading. In addition to overcoming side roll as describedabove, the toe strips 23 together form a protective leather toe cap forthe sock which extends well over the ends of the wearers toes with theresult that there is no longer any excessive tendency to penetrate thetoe portion of the sock during use. In the absence of the elongated toestrips 23, there is a marked tendency for the wearer's toe to breakthrough the sock immediately above the upper edge of the leather sidewall at the front of the article.

As hereinbefore noted, the rear strip I 4 is of greatest width or heightat the center of the strip and tapers to a narrower width on either sidethereof. In addition, the front strip I6 is relatively narrow comparedto the side wall height heretofore employed in articles of thischaracter. As a result of this decrease in the normal width or height ofthe strip I6 and also as a result of the tapering construction of thestrip I4, I am able to provide the toe strips 23 without any substantialincrease in the total amount of leather needed. Moreover, theconstruction embodied in my invention involves fewer embroidery stitchesbecause the inner edges of the toe pieces 23 which are stitched to thesock II are of lesser overall length than the corresponding upper edgeof the Side wall I6 which would normally be stitched directly to thesock I I prior to my invention.

In the event that it is desired to cover the instep or front portion ofthe sock II with suitployed for the toe strips 23 and the adjacent sidewall I6.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to aspecific structural embodiment, it will be understood that variousmodifications and equivalent structures may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An article of footwear of the class described comprising a knittedsock having a sole portion, a leather sole below the sole portion ofsaid sock and provided with an upwardly extending side wall around itsperimeter, said side wall being attached to said sock at the sides andrearof the article and the adjacent edges of said side wall and saidleather sole being turned inwardly and fastened together, and a leathertoe cap extending over the top of said sock adjacent the front of thearticle, said toe cap having elongated portions curved rearwardly fromthe front of the article and extending to, and terminating adjacent, therear of the ball of the sock and fastened to said side wall and to saidsock.

2. An article of footwear of the class described comprising a knittedsock havinga sole portion, a leather sole fitted at the foot of saidsock below said sole portion and provided with an upwardly extendingside wall around its perimeter, said side wall being fastened directlyto said sock adjacent the rear portion of the article and the adjacentedges of said side wall and said leather sole being turned inwardly andfastened together, and a generally U-shaped leather portion extendingover the front of the sock and rearwardly to, and terminating at, theshank portion thereof and attached to said sock at the front thereof andfastened to said side wall adjacent the front portion of the articlewhereby to retain said side wall at the front of the article in itsnormal upwardly extendingposition and thereby preventing spreading orflattening of the side wall during use of the article. v

3. An article of footwear comprising a knitted sock having a soleportion, a leather sole fitted at the foot of said sock below said soleportion and provided with an upwardly extending side wall around itsperimeter, and a leather toe cap attached to said sock at the front ofthe article, said toe cap being formed from a pair of curved elongatedstrips joined together at the front of the article and extendingrearwardly on either side thereof adjacent said side wall rearwardly of,and terminating adjacent to, the ball of the sock, said side wall beingfastened directly to said sock at the rear portion of the article withthe adjacent edges of said side wall and said leather sole being turnedinwardly and fastened together, and said rearwardly extending stripscomprising said toe cap being fastened at their inner edges to said sockand at their outer edges to said side wall adjacent the front portion ofthe article.

4. An article of footwear of the class described comprising a knittedsock having a sole portion, a leather sole fitted at the foot of saidsock below the sole portion thereof and provided with an upwardlyextending side wall around its perimeter, said side wall being connectedto said sock, an elongated cushioning pad extending between said leathersole and the sole portion of said sock throughout the length thereof,said pad having a portion of increased thickness adjacent the heel ofthe article, and a toe cap secured to said side wall and said sock andhaving portions extending to, and terminating at, a point rearwardlyadjacent'the ball of the sock for preventing the sock from rollingsidewardly.

5. An article of footwear of the class described comprising a knittedsock having a sole portion, a leather sole fitted at the foot of saidsock below the sole portion thereof and provided with an upwardlyextending side wall around its perimeter, said side wall at its rearportion being connected adjacent its upper edge to said sock, anelongated cushioning pad extending between said leather sole and thesole portion of said sock, said cushioning pad and the underlyingleather sole being sewed to the lower edge of said side wall whereby toretain said pad in position adjacent said sole, and means for preventingthe front portion of the article from rolling sidewardly on the footcomprising a toe cap secured to said side wall and to said sock andextending rearwardly along the side to, and terminating at, the shank ofthe sock.

ALFRED S. REED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 590,295 Brockman Sept. 21, 18971,335,287 Lundin Mar. 30, 1920 1,661,726 Jensen Mar. 6, 1928 2,391,023Maling Dec, 18, 1945 2,541,020 Arnold Feb. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 859,262 France June 3, 1940 866,772 France June 9,1941

